“JESUS WEPT!”

 By Frank G. Tunstall

When Mary walked up to Jesus on the outskirts of Bethany, “she fell at his feet.” What was inside her troubled soul flooded from the well of her disappointed hopes. “Lord, if you had been here,” she told Jesus, “my brother would still be alive” (John 11:32 TLB). Mary’s statement was spoken with such passion it would have put lesser men than Jesus on heavy guilt trips: Lord, you could have prevented this had you wanted to.

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (John 11:33 KJV). The Greek word for weeping here communicates they were sobbing and wailing. Even if there were only five people in Mary’s group, it must have been quite a sound. Their tears reached the heart of Jesus and the Lord responded with a groaning sigh (vs. 33). The Greek word translated as groaning suggests anger and the indignation that fixes blame. In this case Jesus’ feelings were obviously focused on Satan, the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). The word troubled communicates Jesus was deeply disturbed but very focused. The sense seems to be the Lord was fully aware the time had arrived and He was determined to deal death a mortal blow. Hence, He said to Mary, “Where have you laid him?”

Mary led Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb.

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35 KJV). These two words say it all. Jesus was not sobbing and wailing like Mary and the mourners; instead, the Greek word communicates He was crying softly. It is the shortest verse in the Bible, but common sense and human nature explain it easily. Out of the inner earthquake of Jesus’ churning emotions, a fountain of hot tears sprang up from the Messiah’s holy heart and began to flow out of His pure eyes (see Genesis 6:6).

Indeed! Our Lord is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15 KJV). To this day the Lord who is “acquainted with grief” has special feelings for people suffering loss (Isaiah 53:3). This includes you too, dear reader.

Jesus’ tears showed how much He cared, but His wet eyes did not blind Him, or weaken His resolve. Surely one of the greatest achievements in the ministry of Jesus was His ability to stay focused amid His own grief and disappointment, including the tsunami of satanic opposition He routinely faced. Uncontrolled anger has tripped so many people through the centuries. Even Moses disobeyed and in his fury smote the rock the second time instead of speaking to it as God told him to do (Numbers 20:8–12). Without doubt, Satan’s strategy was to make the fire so hot Jesus would blow up and do something rash. The goal was to push Jesus into committing a deed, anything, that would be independent of His Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:32; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Peter 2:23–25).

We recognize Jesus today as our ultimate champion in part because even in His anger He never did “lose it” or snap-back in kind (Mark 3:5; Ephesians 4:26). Instead, He kept doing the mighty works only God can do as He continued His march to Calvary.

Yes, a clear benefit of suffering is it helps people see clearly what the curse of sin has done since the fall of Adam and Eve in Eden, and explains why bad things happen to good people too. Satan is alive and well, and sin is the great terminator. It kills opportunity; it destroys vision and hope; it squanders wealth; it enslaves a person’s free will; it sends every individual’s body back to dust, it opens the jaws of hell, and eternally destroys the soul of all who do not come to Jesus in repentance.

The curse of sin has also corrupted nature. This explains the aberrations of the elements—tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, mudslides, wild fires, car accidents, and the list goes on-and-on-and-on.

Little wonder Jesus’ salty tears at Bethany mingled with those of Mary and her friends, and were soaked up by the dusty limestone rocks in front of the cave. Jesus felt deeply the heart-breaking pain the sin curse demanded of His friends. And Lazarus was a special friend whom Jesus cared for with the love of God (agape).

The scene at Lazarus’ tomb in Bethany two millennia ago no doubt motivated Jesus to think again about His mission. For Him to redeem mankind and ultimately the natural order in which we all live, He had to destroy this last enemy, death itself (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Many millions of people since Adam had faced the Grim Reaper and lost. No one escaped death’s grip in the whole Old Testament era except Elijah and Enoch (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11–12). But they were enough to show the sovereign power of God could stop death in its tracks.

Please think about it with me. The time had come for Death to be thoroughly humiliated. Indeed! “In Christ, all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Mourners—Friend or Foe?

“See how he loved him!” the Jews said. “But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:36-37).

The scene now shifts from Jesus and Mary and their hot tears to the Jewish relatives and friends who were mourning with the sisters. Grief motivated them to show their inner selves too, their way of thinking. These observers quickly understood Jesus loved Lazarus. But they too were consumed with what they thought was the big question: Why did Jesus not heal Lazarus and prevent his death? After all, they remembered He had opened the eyes of the man born blind (John 9). Like Mary, these mourners’ perception of God’s sovereign purpose that day was minimal too.

Said another way, Mary was so far down in the well of grief, it would have been useless to talk to her about God’s plans. With her mindset, if Jesus had offered the explanation of the effects of the sin curse on all people, as well as on nature, it would have flown right over Mary’s head. Nor did she perceive how transparently she was revealing the condition of her own heart; she was simply too distraught to try to think it all through. Mary just knew she hurt all over. Her friends couldn’t help her, and she was convinced Jesus had arrived too late to help her either – but she would honor His request and take Him to Lazarus’ tomb.

Have you, my reader, ever felt Mary’s despair—a sense that it is absolutely too late; that all hope is gone? (Acts 27:20).

But “too late” is not in Jesus’ vocabulary (Luke 1:37; Matthew 29:26).

Mary and Martha and the mourners were minutes away from witnessing the miracle of miracles, second only in the Bible to the Lord’s resurrection. But their eyes were much too red from crying to perceive it. Grief is a friend when it washes out the soul, but it can easily turn into a dangerous, even a monstrous emotion if it prevents our recognizing the Son of God who is standing in the middle of our crisis.

Jesus knew there is a depth of mourning capable of seeing only the present moment of a broken heart and trampled dreams. This level of grief blocks gazing on the big picture of God’s pending plans. Jesus showed His great compassion by not rebuking Mary and the other women for a lack of faith; instead, He was content to cry with them.

We can be eternally grateful, thank God, that Jesus’ tears did not blur His vision or His thinking. Instead of talking, Jesus acted. He simply proceeded to do something about Lazarus’ death. Something only God could do.

When Jesus wept, the falling tears,
In mercy flowed beyond all bounds.
When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear,
Seized all the guilty world around.
By: William Billings

Related posts

JESUS: “MY TIME”

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. This lesson can be effective for high school and...

PASSING THE TORCH

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. “If you love me, you will obey what I...

A Hated Messiah?

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. The name, Jesus Christ, means Savior-Messiah. As Jesus neared...

UNEXPECTED JOY

  By: Frank Tunstall and Phil Larson Join us as we pray and study...

“CRAVING TO UNDERSTAND”

By: Frank Tunstall The prophets:  “yearning to understand Messiah’s suffering and glory” (1 Peter...

“But if Not”

By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min. All children of God sooner or later will need...

THE PRECIOUS RING

By: Frank G. Tunstall We all have our treasures that we hold to strongly....

Beth Moore: God Uses Your Mistakes for Good

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/january-web-only/beth-moore-god-uses-your-mistakes-for-good.html By: Beth Moore Years ago, when the number of attendees at Living Proof...

THE CROSS IS OUR STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

 ChristianityToday.com/ct/2019/November/cross-is-our-stairway-to-heaven.html Our salvation comes not from someone on our level, but from someone infinitely...

HOW BILLY GRAHAM LEARNED THE ART OF PREACHING

https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2019/august-web-exclusives/billy-graham-learned-art-of-preaching.html? The late evangelist called himself the “champion rambler.” By: Grant Wacker  When I...

BIVOCATIONAL AND COVOCATIONAL MINISTRY

  www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2019/spring/no-easy-calling.html? Three honest stories about its rewards and challenges. BY: LINDA W. PERKINS...

SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE CLERGY

 www.snapnetwork.org/abuse of faith_feb19 Debbie Vasquez at 14 By:  SNAP  Survivors Network of those Abused...

YOUR PLAN B IS STILL GOD’S PLAN

christianitytoday.com/women/2019/january/church-planting-your-plan-b-is-still-gods-plan.html  By: Sandra Peoples In 2015, my husband and I moved from rural Pennsylvania...

THE MAGNIFICAT

By Frank Tunstall The Holy Spirit overshadowed the Virgin Mary in the miraculous and...

A CAROL FOR THE DESPAIRING

www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/december/longfellow-carol-for-despairing-i-heard-bells.html Penned during the Civil War, Longfellow’s ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’...

?? A DIGITAL CHURCH IN THE DIGITAL AGE ??

 https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2018/fall-state-of-church-ministry/embodied-church-in-digital-age.html Should we cheer or moan when online churches perform virtual baptisms? By: Kara...

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHURCH PLANTERS GONE?

christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/august/where-have-all-church-planters-gone.                  What’s the greatest hindrance to effective church planting? BY: Jeff Christopherson You...

SINGLES: A VITAL PART OF OUR CHURCHES

www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/july/singles-vital-part-of-our-churches Singles make up half of our churches, so we best learn to treat...

HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTION

BY: FRANK TUNSTALL, D. MIN. Three outstanding facts stand out regarding Peter’s bold preaching...

3 COMMON REASONS FOR MINISTRY BURNOUT

www.startchurch.com/blog/view/name/how-to-prevent-ministry-burnout? By: Raul Rivera Burnout reason #1: Critical Church Members Oftentimes, one of the...

JESUS’ GLORIFIED BODY

 By Frank G. Tunstall  Cleopas and his unnamed friend had Jesus’ undivided attention on...

5 TOP PRIORITIES FOR INCREASING YOUR CHURCH

 sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/charles-arn-5-top-priorities-for-increasing-your-church This article is a classic on church growth. It was first released in 2010...

OFFENDED BY JESUS?

By: Frank G. Tunstall  Luke records a story about Jesus paying a visit to...

ICEBERG COLD REJECTION

  By: Frank G. Tunstall  Jesus the Prophet deserved the highest adoration, but the...

BLAME US FOR GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

https://townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2018/01/23/blame-us-for-government-shutdown-n2438025     By: Cal Thomas If we don’t like what is happening in...

THE SURPRISING REASON YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE

https://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-mission/the-surprising-reason-you-are-where-you-are-8093 By: Ron Hutchcraft Some years ago, we took a delegation of teenagers to...

WHAT YOUR PASTOR REALLY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS

ChristianityToday.com/pastors/2017/november-web-exclusives/what-your-pastor-really-wants-for-christmas.html?utm_source BY:The editors of CTPastors.com This Christmas, forego the wooden praying hands, the cross-stitched...

CAN THERE BE ONE RIGHT RELIGION?

http://seanmcdowell.org/blog/can-there-be-one-right-religion; Posted November 14, 2017   By: Sean McDowell Recently I was in a...

THE ONE GROUP YOU MIGHT FORGET THIS CHRISTMAS

http://blog.thrivingpastor.com/the-one-group-you-might-forget-this-christmas-2/?refcd=574803&utm_campaign=Thriving+Pastor By John McGee  Nov. 27, 2017 The holiday season is upon us. As...

HEALING HEALERS

By Phil Larson, as told to Frank Tunstall The world’s largest casino is located...

FAITH IS NOT BLIND!

BY: FRANK TUNSTALL Some critics’ claim Christians believe on blind faith, defined as belief...

HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE: CHRISTIAN HISTORY TIMELINE

 http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-43/how-we-got-our-bible-christian-history-timeline.html Have you ever wondered how the Bible has developed through the centuries, so...

IRS TAXES PASTOR FOR SALARY HE NEVER RECEIVED

www.utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blog&utm_content=irs_taxes_pastor_for_salary_he_never_received_2017_10_05 By: Raul Rivera This time of year we get an abundance of phone...

WHAT THE CARPENTER SEES IN YOU

https://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-most-important-relationship/what-the-carpenter-sees-in-you-7979  By Ron Hutchcraft  Hutchcraft.Com Many years ago we were shopping for a place...

WHEN A PRIVATE APOLOGY IS NOT ENOUGH

sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/joe-mckeever-when-a-private-apology-is-not-enough   This article is certainly thought provoking. I think he is saying something...

REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU’RE TIRED OF PEOPLE

thrivingpastor.com/remember-this-when-youre-tired-of-people-2/?refcd=518301&utm_campaign=Remember+This+When+You’re+Tired+of+People   By: John McGee  July 10, 2017 / Focus on the Family Have...

HOW TO LAST IN MINISTRY

Pastor Rick’s Ministry Toolbox <info=pastors.com@mail143.wdc02.mcdlv.net By: Rick Warren Ministry is a marathon: it’s not...

THE SUCCESS AFFAIR

christianitytoday.com/pastors/2017/june-web-exclusives/success-affair.html?utm_source=leadership-tml&utm_medium=Newsletter Why do so many adulterous relationships begin when ministry is going well? By:...

THE MANY BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE

http://blog.thrivingpastor.com/the-many-benefits-of-gratitude/?refcd=504701&utm_campaign=The+Many+Benefits+of+Gratitude This well written article is excellent for focusing us on the grace of...

THE SOBBING SAVIOR

By: Frank G. Tunstall I thought about it hundreds of times over the years,...

HOSANNA

By: Frank G. Tunstall “The next day the great crowd that had come for...

“PRAY FIRST!”

Dr. Ron White serves as president of Emmanuel College. He assumed that role October...

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/lance-witt-courageous-conversations–part-2 By: Lance Witt Courageous conversations is a battle of prepositions.  Half of the...

ONE QUESTION YOU MUST NEVER ASK IN MINISTRY

classic.sermoncentral.com/pastors-preaching-articles/joe-mckeever-one-question-you-must-never-ask-in-ministry-2697.asp? “Sow your seed in the morning, and do not be idle in the...

I WENT TO HELL IN A DREAM

  charismamag.com/spirit/supernatural/28155-revivalist-i-went-to-hell-in-a-dream During this night of terror more than 25 years ago, I fell...

FRANKLIN GRAHAM SPEAKS OUT ABOUT ELECTION

theblaze.com/stories/2016/10/16/franklin-graham-sounds-off-about-the-evangelical-response-to-trumps-latest-scandals By: Franklin Graham   October 16, 2016 A lot of people are slamming evangelicals...

DANCING ON THE EDGE

Released by Focus on the Family, June 6, 2016 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce-and-infidelity/affairs-and-adultery/dancing-on-the-edge By: A pastor who’s...

“IT IS FINISHED!”

 By Frank G. Tunstall The ancient Greeks boasted about being able to say much...

The Day I Hit the Wall

By: Gordon McDonald Marathon runners speak of “hitting the wall,” a moment in a...

HONORING MARRIAGE

Posted by Focus on the Family, December 7, 2015 by Kevin Conklin I once...

RETHINKING DREAMS

By: Frank G. Tunstall  John 1:43 “The next day Jesus decided to leave for...

One comment

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




Top